Three Piagetian stages of cognitive development (i.e., preoperational thought, concrete operational thought, and formal operational thought) are proposed as a model for the teaching of religious concepts to children. While recognizing the difficult task of teaching children certain biblical concepts, it is proposed that Christian education in the home and church be Bible-centered. But the scriptural material presented must be appropriate to the cognitive level of the child; that which is taught should be part and parcel of the child's real world in that the content is related to his present needs and experiences. Examples of appropriate biblical content for each of the three stages are presented.
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